Softball Team Swings For Title—

Conference Is Wide Open; Hawks Are Optimistic

By Andy Hutchison

Led by dominant pitchers, Masuk of Monroe and Lauralton Hall of Milford have been the toughest softball teams in the South-West Conference in recent years. Those schools lost their pitching aces to graduation, perhaps opening the door to several always-strong teams, including Newtown High.

The Nighthawks, of course, lost Jenna Legros, another of the best pitchers around, to graduation but welcome back pitcher Kate Bowen, a senior, who missed her junior year nursing an anterior cruciate ligament injury.

Newtown also graduated shortstop Nora Lynn Shimko, a key fielder and hitter in the lineup, along with some experience at the outfield positions, but Coach Bob Guererra has a good feeling about this year’s team.

“I’m optimistic. I know we lost Jenna, we lost Nora Lynn. You can’t replace players like that, but I’ve got some good kids coming up that have been in the program for a couple of years,” Guererra said. “We’re going to be very competitive.”

Guererra adds that Masuk and Hall again could be leading contenders, along with Brookfield, Bethel, and Pomperaug of Southbury. As the coach points out, there appears to be plenty of parity in the SWC this spring.

“I think it’s going to be kind of a dog fight to see who can step up and claim the crown,” Guererra said.

Junior Natalie Dunn, who has plenty of varsity experience under her belt, moves into the shortstop position. Bowen and her battery-mate, catcher Ashley Kuligowski, are the senior captains and will try to work together to shut down opposing offenses and get the Hawks into conference title contention. The infield is experienced with second baseman Ally Modzelewski, third baseman Megan Gibbons, and first baseman Colleen Cunningham all back to their familiar roles.

Guererra said this year’s team appears to have a good mix of power and speed and he anticipates that the offense will put the ball in play and use its quick legs to pressure opposing fielders.

Newtown reached the SWC semifinals and entered the Class LL State Tournament with a 14-5 record and as the No. 10 seed and got to the quarterfinals.

The Nighthawks were scheduled to begin the season Wednesday at Danbury in a nonconference game (after The Bee sports section went to press). Newtown is slated to play its first three games on the road and will host Bunnell of Stratford on April 14. The Nighthawks do not face Masuk and Hall until mid-May. Home games will be at Treadwell Park.